Kane Williamson, raising his bat here against Sri Lanka in 2012, needs centuries against Australia, England, Pakistan and Zimbabwe to have scored hundreds against all nine other tier-one test-playing nations. Photo/File
Kane Williamson, raising his bat here against Sri Lanka in 2012, needs centuries against Australia, England, Pakistan and Zimbabwe to have scored hundreds against all nine other tier-one test-playing nations. Photo/File
Kane Williamson may just be on the road to being New Zealand's greatest test batsman.
The diminutive right-hander, who plays his club cricket for Williams Cup champions City Sports Bar Te Puke, looks to have gone past former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor as the country's pre-eminent batsman after awonderful past 12 months.
His unbeaten, series-defining 161 against the West Indies means Williamson has compiled nearly 1000 runs in nine tests in the past year, at an average of 66.13.
After the fourth day's play, the West Indies pacemen were under no illusions regarding who the Black Caps' batting efforts revolved around.
"He obviously is their best batsman in the team," Kemar Roach said.
"He has been in good form and he is definitely hard to bowl at.
"Getting his wicket is always going to be an even better feeling, so hopefully tomorrow we come out there fresh and try to knock them over."
An overnight declaration from the visitors deprived Roach of an opportunity to do just that, leaving more than enough time for Tim Southee and Element IMF Cadets paceman Trent Boult to go about their increasingly familiar double act on the final day.
Williamson, whose low-key century celebrations are beginning to look routine, said he was not getting too carried away with his improving statistics.
"I don't look at that at all. I am just trying to improve my game all the time and adapt to what's in front of me," Williamson said.
"I suppose you learn more and more as you play. I have played a lot recently and that helps.
"I just want to stay calm and relaxed at the crease and try and score as many runs as I can, as often as I can."
Williamson's performance in the match, which helped yield the Black Caps' first test-series win against a top nation since 2002, was made even more impressive following his citing for chucking during the second test.
